Side door for railway cars



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m ||o||| 0 0 m 1 m m o 4/4 9 9 JO/QB A. CAMPBELL SIDE DOOR'FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed March 12, 1951 July 4, 1933.

ww rw July 4, 1933. A. CAMPBELL SIDE DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed March 12, 1951 I 3 Shee s-Sheet 2 y 1933. A. CAMPBELL SIDE DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed March 12. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July '4, 1933 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 5 ARGYLE CAMPBELL, or CHICAGO; ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR -T0= ENTERPRISE RAILWAY nonrri-snnrooivrrimy, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS SIDE DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS provide a door structurewhich is light and strong and more effectively Waterproof by the use of door paneling formed of a singledoor sheet free of joints for substantiallythe area of the door. v

A further object is to strengthen and rigidify the door by a series of concealed reinforcing braces located within the confines of the depth of the door and secured to the inner face of the door paneling and to the framing and to each other, in such manner that the door structureis braced against warping, racking or distortion in any direction. p

Another object is to reinforce the lower edge of the door structure by the provision of a tubularly formed member extending the width of the door and secured to the frame marginal members and the door paneling to effectively tie these parts together in rigid relation to resist bending of the door.

A further object is to provide effective sealing means for the. edges of the door when in closed position. v

Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I

I Fig. l is a view inelevation of a portion of the side wall of a car, illustrating my'improved door structure in closedposition, covering the door opening or area and illustrating the disposition of the. bracing with respect to the door plate and the marginal'frarne thereof; I V

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. l of the door structure; Y

Fig. 8 is a still further enlarged vertical section substantially 0n the line 3 3 ofFig. 1 of the door structure and the frame defining the door opening in the car wall, the major central portion of the door and the car frame being broken away and the view foreshortened to illustrate more particularly the upper and lower portions of the structure;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the door structure alone, this view being taken substantially on the line of- Fig. 5 is, a still further enlarged transverse sectional .view substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 ofthe central portion of the door structure, and the door opening frame being brolren away and the View foreshortened to better illustrate the forward and rear edges of the door structure and the relation thereof to thelframewhich definesthe car door opening anc Fig. 6 is a detailview of one of the cast guide blocks used in the sealing strip at the forward edge of the. door opening The framing of the car structure which de fines the door opening in the side wall A of I the car includes the forward and rear. vertical door posts 1 and 2', the upper'cross member 8 connected to the upper ends of the posts,

and the lower threshold member 4 de ning the lower edge'of the door opening. The door posts comprise anglemernbers having their flanges 5 and 6 respectively disposedparallel to the side wall of the car and having 7 their other flanges 7 and 8 respectively out- I standing at right angles thereto. The flange 7 oftheforward door .post extends outwardly'beyond the plane of the door opening so as to intersect-the plane of the door itself to provide an abutment for the door in closed position and to support the sealing strip 9, hereinafter described. The horizontal upper member 3 of the car framing is of Z-shape in cross section and disposed with its web in 'vertical'position and its flanges 10 and 11 extending horizontally in opposite directions. The flange 11' extends to the outer plane of the door opening and carries atrack plate 12 which projects still further outwardly to overlie the plane ofthe door so as to provide an overhead track upon which the door is hung to slideto open or closed position, the tract: plate being secured to the flange 11 by means of the series of rivets- 13; On the un .dersurface of this track plate is provided an angle member 14:, one flange of WlliCl1 'iS secured by the rivets 15 to the track plate and V the other flange of which extends downwardj ly at rightangles about midway of the thickness of the door and adapted to cooperate RUF with the frame of the door to prevent lateral displacement of the door with respect to its support.

The rear door post 2 carries a sealing angle 16, one flange of which is secured by the rivets 17 to the flange 8 of the door post and the other flange 18 of which extends rearwardly at right angles for cooperation with the rear marginal member of the door frame.

The door structure embodies, in its outer plane, paneling which preferably consists of a large single plate or sheet C of a flat, smooth construction, extending the full width of the door and extending from the top of the door to substantially the lower margin of the door. The use of a large single plate of this character is of considerable advantage over the type of door employing severl smaller plates, for the reason that it elimjinates the necessity for joints between sections or plates and renders the doors more effective'from the standpoint of being waterproof. The'forward vertical and horizontal upper margins of the door are formed by the frame members which are Z-shaped in sections 20 and 21, respectively. These Z-shaped frame members are disposed with their webs 22 and'23 atright angles to the plane of the door sheet C, thus defining the thickness of the door structure. The flanges 24 and 25 of these frame members overlie the edges of the door sheet C and are secured on the outer surface thereof by means ,of rivets 26. The

flanges 27' and 28 of the frame members extend outwardly in parallel relation to the plane of the door sheet C, but are disposed inwardly of the door sheet C and define the inner plane of the door. In like manner, the rear vertical margin of the door is formed by the channel-shaped frame member 29, the flange 30 of which overlies the outer surface f the door sheetand is secured thereto by the rivets 31. The inner flange 32 of this rear marginal frame member is offset inwardly from the inner plane of the door and is deflected at an angle sothat when the door is moved to closed position this deflected flange 32 cooperates With the flange 18 of the door post member 16 to seal the oint. The angular relation of the flange 32 causes the door to be drawn tightly against the car frame and thereby more effectively close the marginal space around the edges of the door between the door and the car frame.

At its upper edge the door is provided with hanger brackets 35 which are riveted to the door sheet C and the flange of the marginal frame member and extend upwardly and in overhanging relation to the track plate 12, where they carry suitable rollers 36 adapted to travel upon the upper surface of said track plateand thus suspend the door for free sliding movement. The hanger brackets also carry under rollers 37 which cooperate with the undersurface of the track plate to prevent tilting of the door in the plane of itself. These under rollers 37 are disposed .mainly within the thickness of the door and are positioned in the recess formed'between the web and upward flange ofthe door frame member 21. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the guide flange 14, which depends from the undersurface of the track plate, is positioned between the portions of the hanger brackets which support the under rollers andthe inner flange 28 of the door frame'member thus providing an interlocking arrangement between the track and the door to prevent lateral displacement of the door.

The low-er margin of the door is formed by a structure which is tubular in section and which extends entirely across the lower'edge of the door from the forward to the rear margins thereof. This tubular member is formed by an inner face plate 40,.and an outer plate 41 which are spaced apart the thickness of the door, so that the outer plate lies substantially in the plane of the single door sheet and the facing plate lies within the innerplane of the door. The upper portion 42 of the facing plate is deflected outwardly and then upwardly to meet the upper edge portion 43 of the outer plate, these portions being superposed one upon the other and secured to. the inner surface of the door sheet by the row of rivets 44. The lower portion 45 of the outer plate 41 is deflected or oflset inwardly and then downwardly to meet the lower edge portion 46 of the facing plate in'substanti-ally the inner plane of the door, and these portions of the elements of the tubular member are secured together by the rivets47 and form a double thickness flange which projects downwardly below the lower ends of the door frame members 20 and 29. This flange is arranged to cooperate with the guide brackets 48 which are mounted on the frame of the car and which have upstanding guide portions 49 cooperating with the flange to prevent the lower end of the door being swung outwardly away from the opening. These guide portions are cam-shaped on their inner faces and are engaged by the pieces 50 riveted on the flange in positions corresponding to the closed '4 position of the door to wedge the door tightly against the car frame. The ends 51 of the upper portions 43 of the facing plate are turned inwardly at right angles to overlie the inner faces of the webs of the verticalJmar-- ginal frame members 20 and 29and are riveted to said webs by means of the rivets 52 so as to further strengthen the door at the lower corners and tie the tubular structure to the vertical marginal members of the door frame. The tubular formation just described serves as a veryeffective reinforcement for the lower edge'of the door and stiflens this edge to prevent it-being distorted .or bent outof shape. v

The door structure is strengthened by a r plurality of braces which are-tied to each other and to the door-sheet and marginal frame members'in such manner as to very effectively stiffen the door against distortion and racking throughout the entire area thereof. These braces 55, 56, 57 and 58 are all of crest formations having flanges 59 which are flatlysecured to the door sheet by means of the rivets 60, said braces being also provided with embossments 61 eXtendmg long1- ginal members of the door and are secured thereto by the same rivets which fasten the door sheet. to said flanges. In like manner, the lower ends overlie the upper flange 43 of the tubular member and are secured thereto by the same rivets which secure the tubular member to the door sheet. disposed horizontally slightly belowthe center of the door and. its ends overlie the flanges of the diagonal braces 57'and 58 to which they are riveted. The vertical brace 55 is disposed in the vertical center line of the door and its ends overlie and are secured by rivets to the flanges of the upper marginal frame member and the flange of the cross brace 56 v respectively. By meansof thesebraces, the entire door structure is reinforcedand stiffened throughout its area against bending or damaging strains in all directions It will be noted that all of the bracing is disposed on the inner face of the door sheet and entirely within the confines of thethickness of the door so that the door is provided with a smooth, flat outersurface througtout its area. The sealing strip 9, hereinbefore referred to, is of channel or U-shape formation in section and its flange 65 is secured to the outer surface of the door post flange? by means of the row of rivets 66. The web 67 is disposed in parallel relation to the plane of the door and its other flange 68 extends inwardly toward the door opening but is shorter than the flange 65 so as to provide a space between itself and the car frame for the reception of the flange 27 of the forward vertical marginal member of the door frame, thus pro-.

viding a weatherproof seal for the forward edge of the door. The entrance 69 of this sealing space is widerthan the thickness of theflangeQ'Y, soas to insure entrance of the intolthe sealing spacelwlien thedoor is closed, but within the sealing memberthere is provided a number. of cast guide blocks 70 having cam surfaces 71 angularly disposed to reduce the space for the flange. Thus,

The brace 56 is the door flange'Q'Tfreely enters the-sealing space 69 and engagesthe cam'surfaces 71 whichact-toforcethedoor toward the car frame as the door approaches its final closed position. As before mentioned, the flange .7

of the door post serves as an abutment for the door flange 27' andthe short flange 68 of the sealing strip contacts with the web 2210f the door frame member and effectively seals thejoint between the door and the car frame against the entrance ofweather. i

- I claim:

r 1. In a side, door for railway cars, the com:-

binationof'a door frame comprising angle marginalv members having' flanges defining the outer plane'of the door andweb portions 'disposed at right angles thereto defining the depthof the door, door paneling extending throughout'the areaof the frame and disposed substantiallyin the plane of said flanges and having its edges secured tosaid flanges, a

tubular reinforcing member secured to, the

lower edgeof the door paneling and extending between and-secured at its ends to the vertical marginal frame members of the door, diagonal reinforcingbraces positioned within the confines of the depth of' the door and secured to the inner surface of said paneling,

said braces being also secured at their ends .to the vertical marginal frame members and to the tubularreinforcing memben 2., Ina side door for railway cars,'the combination of a door frame comprising angle marginal members having flanges defining the outer plane of the doorand web portions disposed at right angles thereto defining the depth of the door, a single door sheetex tending throughout the area of the frame and disposed substantially in the plane of said flanges and having its edges secured to said flanges, a tubular re nforcing member secured to the lower edge of the door sheet and ex,-

tending between and secured atits ends to the vertical marginal frame members of the door,

diagonal reinforcing braces positioned Within the confines of the depth of the door and.

secured to the inner surface of the door sheet, sald bracesbelng also secured 'at their ends to the vertical marginal frame members and to the tubular reinforcing member, and a horizontal reinforcing brace secured to the inner surface of the door sheet and to the diagonal braces;

3. Ina side door bination of a door frame comprising angle marginal members having flanges defining for railway cars, the comthe outer plane of the door andweb portions disposed at right angles thereto defining the depth of the door, a single door sheetextending throughout the area of the frame and dis posed substantially in. the plane of said.

flanges and having its edges secured to said flanges, a tubular rernfcrclng. member, 'securedto the lower edge of the door sheet and extending between and secured at its ends to ends to the vertical marginal frame members and to the tubular reinforcing member, a horizontal reinforcing, brace secured to the inner surface of the door sheet and to the diagonal braces, and a reinforcing brace secured to the inner surface of the door sheet and extending between and secured to the horizontal brace and to the upper marginal frame member.

4. In a side door for railway cars, the" com bination of a door frame comprising angle marginal members having flanges defining the outer plane of the door and. web portions disposed at right angles thereto defining the depth of the door, a single door sheet extending throughout the area of the frame and disposed substantially in the plane of said flanges and having its edges secured to said flanges, said door sheet terminating short of the lower ends of the marginal frame members, and a. tubular reinforcement member comprising two plates spaced apart an appreciable distance and secured at its ends to the flanges and webs of said frame members and to the lower edge of the door sheet.

5. In a side door for railway cars, the combination of a door frame comprising angle marginal members having flanges defining the outer plane of the door and web portions disposed at right angles thereto defining the depth of the door, a single door sheet extending throughout the area of the frame and disposed substantially in the plane of said flanges'and having its edges secured to said flanges, said door sheet terminating short of the lower ends of the marginal frame members, and tubular reinforcement member comprising two plates spaced apart an appre,

ciable distance andisecured at its ends to the flanges and webs of said frame members, the upper edge portion of the inner plate being deflected to a position adjacent the upper edge portion of the outer plate and a series of rivets securing said edge portions to the in ner surface of the lower edge portion of the door sheet.

6. In a side door for railway cars, the combination of a door frame comprising angle marginal members having flanges defining the outer plane of the door and web portions disposed at right angles thereto defining the depth of the door, a single door sheet eX- tending throughout the area of the frame and. disposed substantially in the plane of said flanges and having its edges secured to said flanges, said door sheet terminating short of the lower ends of the marginal frame members, a tubular reinforcement member comprising two plates spaced apart an appreciable distance and secured at 1ts ends to the flanges and webs of said frame members,

the upper edge portion of the inner plate being deflected to a position adjacent the upper edge portion of the outer plate anda series of rivets securing said edge portions to the inner surface of the lower edge portion of the door sheet, the lower edge portion of the outer plate being offset inwardly and secured to the lower edge portion of the inner plate to form a depending flange across the lower edge .of the door.

7. In a door for railway cars, the combination of adoor comprising frame members defining the margins of said door and the depth of the door, paneling disposed in the outer plane of said frame and securedat its edges to said frame members and reinforcing means forsaid door disposed within the confines of the depth of the door and comprising a plurality of bracing members secured to the inner surface of the door paneling,two of said bracing membersbeing secured to the vertical and lower marginal frame members and disposed diagonally in V relation to each other to reinforce the lower portion of the door, and two others of said bracing members reinforcing the upper portion of the door and disposed in inverted T relation with respect to each other, one of said upper bracing members being disposed horizontally and secured at its ends to the diagonal braces, and the other of said upper members being positioned vertically in substantially the center of the door paneling and secured at its upper end to the upper door frame member and at its lower end to the horizontal brace member.

8. In a door for railway cars, the combination with frame members defining the margins of the door and including vertically extending marginal members and top and bottom marginal members; of reinforcing means for the door comprising a plurality of bracing members, two of said bracing members being secured to the vertical and lower marginal frame members and disposed diagonally in V relation to eachother to reinforce the lower portion on the door. and others of said bracing members being adapted to reinforce the upper portion of the .door and disposed in angular relation to each other and to the V shaped members, one of said last named bracing members extending horizontally across the door and between .the pair of diagonally extending braces and secured thereto.

9. In a door for railway car, the combination with frame members defining the margins of the door and including vertical marginal members and upper and lower marginal members; of reinforcing means for the door including a plurality of bracing members secured to thedoor frame, two of said bracing members being secured to the vertical and lower marginal frame members and disposed. diagonally in V relation to each otherto reinforce the lower portion of the door, and another of said bracing members extending horizontally across the door between the diagonal members and secured at each end to the said diagonal members, and other bracing means extending from the said horizontal member to the upper margin of the door to reinforce the door on Vertical lines intermediate the said horizontal bracing memher and upper marginal member.

10. In a door for railway car, the combination with frame members defining the margins of the door and including Vertical marginal members and upper and lower marginal members; of reinforcing means for the door including a plurality of bracing members, two of the said bracing members being secured to the Vertical and lower marginal frame members and disposed diagonally in V relation to each other to reinforce the lower portion of the door and other bracing means for reinforcing the upper part of the door, said last named bracing means including bracing members arranged in angular relation to each other and to the V shaped members and having a point of attachment with each of the diagonal members.

11. In a door for railway car, the combination with frame members including vertical marginal members and upper and lower horizontal marginal members; of reinforcing means for said door comprising a plurality of bracing members, two of said bracing members being secured to the vertical and lower marginal frame members and disposed diagonally in V relation to each other to reinforce the lower portion of the door and two others of said bracing members reinforcing the upper portion of the door and disposed in T shape relation with respect to each other, one of said upper bracing members being disposed horizontally and secured at its ends to the diagonal bracing members and the other of said upper members being disposed Vertically in substantially the center of the door and secured at its upper end to the upper door frame marginal member and at its lower end to the horizontally disposed bracing member.

ARGY LE CAMPBELL. 

